We have just had our buildings survey back from a large national chain. There are A LOT of 3s - but they are only for the "services" eg electricity, gas and from what I can gather it's more that they're a bit of an unknown rather than a problem. The only slightly "unique to the property" issue in those caregories is that a waste pipe runs under the garage, too, but this has planning and building regs sign off and I'm ok with it.
There are also quite a few 2s for example mentioning some areas which would benefit from repointing, some minor settlement cracks. Creaky floorboards, old bathroom fitments and new windows "required" are mentioned also. It has uPVC double glazing and doors but this is quite old, with a couple of blown units. This was very obvious to us already!
There is no sign of damp, rot, woodworm, Japanese knotweed or subsidence.
It's an 85 year old house which has been extended.
Is this quite typical of an old house, that the survey would look really scary?! Our valuation has come back fine and the survey includes the line "this house would seem like a decent purchase for its age."